With Thunderous Applause

“So this is how liberty dies--with thunderous applause.” Padme Amidala, Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith

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I have thought long and hard about what I would do if Obama were elected. I have made some post-election resolutions in order to organize my thoughts, adjust to the new reality, and chart the course for the future. First, I am going to congratulate the other side, thankful that we live in a country in which power is transferred peacefully through the ballot box and not through the force of arms. Agree or disagree with the result, we must live with it. That is how we do it here. Whether our side was not convincing enough, our message did not get through, or we sent the wrong messenger, we must accept the decision of the voters and move on. That is what makes our country great. Then I am going to say a prayer for our country because we are going to need all the prayers we can get. I will thank God for my family, friends, and business which has thrived by the grace of God and an environment that was heretofore friendly to small business people--the folks who create most of the jobs in this country. I will give thanks that I am privileged to live in a “red state” where the Midwestern work ethic still predominates, the people are sensible, good-hearted, and help their neighbor without being forced to by the government. Here we ask for nothing from government except freedom from government. Here, thank God, family values prevail, the air is clean, and the crime rate low. Here, “the centre still holds.” I will strive to take care of my little corner of the world and make it better to the extent I am able. Perhaps that is the best anyone can do right now; much of what happens from here on out is largely beyond our control. At least for a couple more years. We have just given the reigns of power to a President-Elect who believes in the power of Big Government and a Congress eager to grant his every wish. I will work hard to remain a member of the “loyal opposition” and resist the prospect of a soon to be unfettered socialist government because our country is not going to look much like the America of times past. The country will, in time, know buyer’s remorse because it bought the glitz, the packaging, and the advertising, but did not look closely at the contents. I will continue to resist the income confiscation that will stifle the American spirit of entrepreneurship, as well as the thought police who punish anyone who dares to speak out against the Great Leader. If the Missouri Truth Squad prosecutors who threatened to prosecute anyone who “misstated” the policies of Obama, the Black Panther armed with a nightstick outside the Pennsylvania polling booth, or the "domestic security force" of which Obama recently spoke are harbingers of things to come, we are in serious trouble. The idea that he would propose a domestic security force is eerily reminiscent of the Brown Shirts of the 1930s and equally as frightening. I will continue to fight against misguided liberal politicians such as Chuck Schumer who propose a return to the “Fairness Doctrine,” which is nothing more than a thinly-disguised attempt to muzzle what is left of our “free press” in the United States and quiet the voices of the conservative talk show hosts who dare criticize The Great Leader. In Putin's Russia they criminalize criticism of public officials, not here. Not yet. We will try to check the advance of the radical juggernaut that begins in a few short weeks because there will be no one left in the states to do it. Our “free press’ has been in the tank for Obama for years now, and is seldom critical of anything He says or does. The Fourth Estate has become an unapologetic shill for Obama--ABC (All Barack Channel), NBC (Nightly Barack Channel), CBS (Covering Barack Seriously) and others get a collective Chris Mathews tingle down their leg when He speaks. How are they to keep the power of government in check when the press has become a cheerleading squad? When the Evil Bush is gone, what will they have to talk about? Barack's favorite food? The thoughts of The Great Leader? The confluence of a subservient press, a socialist president, scary economic times (ironically brought on in large part by the party that just benefited from it), and an uncritical electorate, holds grave implications for our liberty. Thank God for the Canada Free Press, because I fear that there will be no one left to tell the story. Yet there is much for us to look forward to during an administration that promises to be everything to everyone and give us all that we need. As one of Obama's supporters said: “Now, I won't have to worry about my rent or groceries.” The world has Changed overnight and everything will be better. He promised it would be so. Now we have Hope that: --We will be loved above all nations of the world --The terrorists will have no reason to attack us, ever again --There will be no more war or poverty --The planet will cool during the next four years --The slaughter in Darfur will end --We can disband the military --We will all get free gas, food, and medical care --Government will be our mother and father --There will be no more racism --Crime will subside --China will stop building a new coal fired power plant every week --North Korea will end its nuclear program --The Arabs will love the Jews --Hezbollah and Hamas will amend their charters and embrace Israel --The air will clear when Obama bankrupts the coal industry, and --The government can simply print as much money as we need to pay for everything. I fear that--without knowing it--we have traded our liberty for the sweet sound of promises that The Great Leader knows He cannot keep, the security that He cannot give, and the programs we cannot afford. And we did it to the sound of thunderous applause. (Special thanks to Catherine T. Stoos, my daughter, future doctor, and Star Wars expert)